Fabric take-up means



Feb; 9, 1960 L ROY BROOKE 2,924,085

FABRIC TAKE-UP DEANS Filed Jan. 13. 1958 IN VENTOR L: Rev J. Bacon:

ORNEY r' 2,924,085 s Patented F 1960 FABRIC TAKE-UP MEANS Le Roy J.Brooke, Norristown, Pa., assignor to Wildman Jacquard Co., Norristowu,Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application January 13, 1958, SerialNo. 708,688

Claims. (Cl. 66-149) This invention relates to improvements in take-upmeans for use in fiat type knitting machines, and more specifically, toimprovements to bar and strap means for engaging and drawing flat knitfabrics from the needles which are directed toward preventing injury tothe knitter due to unintended contact with the fabric engaging hooks ofsuch devices.

It is a general object of the invention to protect the knitter andothers from injuries so frequently suffered from the hooks of thesetake-up means.

A further object is that of protecting against such injuries while stillretaining the full utility of the takeup without sacrificing itsefficacy as a means by which the fabric may be securely held and alsowithout making it necessary to resort to more than is now required tohook the device to a fabric.

In many fiat knitting machines, e.g., full-fashioned type hosiery orsweater knitters, the fabric is drawn from the needles or knitting pointby resilient pulling means part of which comprises a bar, strap andfabric engaging hooks at points along the bar length. Examples of suchmeans are to be found in United States Patents 1,683,989 and 2,057,199.The hooks which engage the fabric are sharp and the hook opening is suchthat while they serve admirably for catching the fabric very quickly andwithout specialefiort, they are also responsible for a great many uglyscraches and lacerations suffered by the knitter and others who come incontact with them.

According to the instant invention, the hooks of the take-up means areprotected or guarded in such a way that while the fabric may be impaledon them in virtually the usual way, it is not reasonably possible for aperson using or handling the device or even engaging it while working onor about the machine to become injured by a hook. The device itself ismodified by the addition of guard means in the nature of preferablyresilient, forked, curved members, one fork end at either side of thehook adjacent its point all as will be explained in detail.

The invention will be described more fully by reference to a specificembodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying figures ofdrawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing mechanism including the inventionas employed.

Fig. 2 is a section showing details of the invention, and

Figs. 3 and 4 are views further illustrating the construction of a hookand its guard.

Now referring to Fig. 1, a fabric take-up means to which the inventionhas been applied includes a bar and a strap 11 which is preferablyresiliently drawn in a manner to pull the fabric F from the needles asits stitches are cast off. A plurality of hooks 12 are attached, atleast one at either end of the bar, and in many instances, others areinterspersed along the bar length. Since each hook and its attendantguard are preferably similar, a description of one unit will sutfice.

Referring to Figs. 24, the hook 12 has a shank 13, eye 14 and a point15. The hook is attached to the bar by a screw 16 which passes throughthe eye and is threaded into the bar.

Normally, these take-up means include the construc-, tion described tothis point. While the hooks may'be readily engaged in the fabricstitches and hold'very well, a serious detriment to the whole applianceresides in'the fact that the pointsof the hooks constitute a definitesource of danger. It is a most common occurrence for the knitter orothers to be scratched or to suffer more serious and ugly lacerations,dueto accidental contact with these points. These accidents occur bothwhen connecting and disconnecting the take-up bar, and also, at othertimes since the operator may work at the fabric area of the machine andthe hooks are in position to be contacted.

According to the invention a guard is applied to each hook and iscomprised as a fiat, spring stock member having a connecting base 17from whichextends a forked portioneach fork end 18 of which is bent orcurved at' its end 19 more or less as shown. Each fork end 18 extendstoward a plane in front of the hook point and the curved end 19 has aportion at least, which extends as far in the direction of hook opening,or away from the shank, so as to reach at least to a plane of the hookpoint parallel to the shank and, in a plane generally perpendicular tothat, extends to the front of the hook point. Preferably, it extends alittle farther then that.

In practice, it is easy enough to engage the fabric on the hook since bypressing a hook and its guard against the fabric while the latter is ina taut condition, the guard will be sprung toward the point of the hookuntil the fabric is penetrated by the latter. When impaled on a hook,the fabric passes the guard which then springs back to a point coveringor protecting position.

In releasing the fabric, the opposite takes place. The hooks areforcibly withdrawn at which time the guard merely springs inwardly ifthe fabric is taut or if slack, the fabric itself merely finds its wayoff the point and past the guard.

However, any contact with the hook-guard assembly which would normallyresult in a minor or more serious laceration, will merely move the barand hook aside since any reasonable pressure against the guard will dothat before the guard ends 18 spring down enough to uncover the hookpoint' In this regard it must be borne in mind that, due to the natureof a fabric, it is much more easily engaged by the protected hook thanis a part of the human anatomy. Actual tests are most convincing ofthis.

The guard may be formed of round, spring stock as well as of flat, butin any event, the same general shape and dimensions are to be followed.Stiffness of the guard may vary within limits, and, of course, it may bemade of relatively rigid stock but then, engagement of the fabricrequires more time and/or there may be a chance of missing it a quickhooking action is attempted. Preferably, one should build into the guardenough resistance so that a pressure at the hook area will not besufiicient to encounter the hook point, but nevertheless, not so muchthat it would become diflicult to hook the fabric as required.

While one embodimen of the invention has been disclosed, it is to beunderstood that the inventive concept may be carried out in a number ofways. This invention is, therefore, not to be limited to the precisedetails described, but is intended to embrace all variations andmodifications thereof falling within the spirit of the invention and thescope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a means for taking up knitted fabric, a bar, a strap and fabricengaging means attached to said bar, said fabric engaging meanscomprising a plurality of 3 i hook-like members havinga point and"guardmeans "at either side of each hook adjacent the point thereof forprotecting the user of the take-up means without inhibiting easyengagement of the hook with the fabric.

2. Mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein said guard means comprises a"forked spring-like member.

3. Mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein said guard means comprises acurved spring-like member at either side of'thefsaid hook-like memberwhich, when unflexed, extends atleast to the 'pla'ne of the hook pointin the directi'onb'f the hook opening'and'in a planegenerallyperpendicular to thatpextendsto the front of the hook point.

4."In 'ameans for taking up knitted fabric, a bar, a strap and fabricengaging means attached to said bar, said fabric engaging meanscomprising a plurality of hook-like members having a point and guardmeans for each'said hook-like member which comprises a fork-likeprotecting means extending to each side of said hooklike member andprojecting beyond thepoint thereof in the direction of hookopening andin front of thatpoint.

5. In a means for taking up knitted fabric, a bar, a strap and fabricengaging means attached to said bar,'said fabric engaging meanscomprising a plurality of hooklike members havinga point andguard-*means' for ea'Eh said hook-like member which comprises afork-like protecting means extending to each side of said hook-likemember and projecting beyond the point thereof in the direction of hookopening and in front of that point, said fork-like means being resilientwhereby it may be deflected to uncover the hook point when fabric in ataut state is pressed against said hook.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 44,031Wanner Aug. 30, 1864 249,659 Moore Nov. 15, 1881 548,874 Hayward Oct.29, 1895 564,016 Hayward July 14, 1896 581,868 Mullane May 4, 18971,006,066 Davis Oct. 17, 1911 1,683,989 Richter Sept. 11, 1928 2,057,199Marks Oct. 13, 1936 2,513,256 Sonnenburg June-27,1950

FOREIGN PATENTS 568,338 Great Britain Mar. .29, 1945

